Question

The correct increasing order of covalent character of LiCl, LiBr, LiI is:

• A. LiI < LiBr < LiCl
• B. LiCl < LiI < LiBr
• C. LiI < LiCl < LiBr
• D. LiCl < LiBr < LiI

Answer 1

The correct option is D LiCl < LiBr < LiI

Lithium-ion has a small size. Hence it can easily distort the electron cloud of the anion. Hence lithium halides have partial covalent character.

The anion with a larger size can be easily distorted. The increasing order of the ionic size is $C{l}^{-}<B{r}^{-}<I^{-}$. Hence among the given halides, lithium chloride is least covalent in nature and lithium iodide is most covalent in nature.

Hence, the correct option is $\text{D}$